Planet Earth 2009: an o
renewable energy in 2020, contributing to The scene then shifted from tributes, The remainder of the Launch Event was
very signifi cant energy savings. statements, explanations and ambitions dedicated to a series of three themes of
The representative of the Minister for to the ultimate example of a formal group global concern: population growth and
Higher Education of the United Republic letter of intent, called the Paris Declaration. climate change challenges for Planet Earth;
of Tanzania described the process of UN The specifi c aims and objectives of the IYPE Earth resources — threat or treat?, and
proclamation in which Tanzania played an include urging decision makers the world Geohazards – minimising risk, maximising
initiating and decisive role. Also stressed over to make knowledge of Planet Earth awareness.
was the need for more geoscientifi c freely available, to encourage development
input in decision making in Africa. A of new knowledge for the
benefi t of all nations, and
»A specially
to encourage support
of the initiatives from
composed ‘geo-song’
all quarters of society
called Mother Earth so as to reduce natural
was sung with musical
hazard impact and guide
sustainable development
accompaniment by
v
for generations to come.
erview
more than 100 students Aubrey Manning
from all continents of
– Emeritus Professor,
renowned zoologist and
the world.
television and radio
broadcaster – then
statement on behalf of the Italian Minister enlivened the proceedings
African Launch Event
of the Environment emphasised the full with a vision of the Arusha, Tanzania, 8 & 9
commitment and signifi cant fi nancial support essentials of the Earth
May 2008.
provided by the Italian government. He went system.
on to encourage nations to work on the IYPE The afternoon session began with the Population growth and
legacy by stressing the need for realisation performance of a ‘geo-song’ called Mother climate change challenges
of an International Research Centre on Earth Earth. This specially composed item was for Planet Earth
sciences for sustainable development. A sung with instrumental accompaniment by This theme was introduced by Aubrey
more wide-ranging discourse was presented more than 100 students who hailed from all Manning. The opening session included
by Arab Hoballah, Chief of the Sustainable continents of the world and were present a presentation by Nikita White (Ireland),
Consumption and Production Branch of as guests of the IYPE; they were selected the fi rst of three winners of a student
the Division of Technology, Industry and from among the very many students who competition involving original essays or
Economics of UNEP. participated in a worldwide Geo-Contest. poems, extracts from which prefaced the
discussion of each theme. Views were then
presented by Renate Christ, Secretary of
The International Year
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
of Planet Earth’s global
launch event.
Change (IPCC), who presented a wide
ranging review of information indicative of
anthropogenic infl uences leading to global
warming. This was a stimulating if slightly
harrowing contribution, followed by an
equally arresting but differently angled talk
by Ghislain de Marsily of the French Academy
of Sciences. The theme was then taken up
by Ruud Lubbers, former Prime Minister of
The Netherlands, followed by the views of
Arti Mehra, mayor of the City of Delhi, India.
Like Professor Lubbers, who illustrated the
theme from his personal experience of the
remarkable growth of the city of Rotterdam,
Mehra spoke from the point of view of one
of the largest and fastest growing cities in
the world.
The second day was opened by
www.yearofplanetearth.org PLANET EARTH 25
PE6.intern.overview.kj.mw.indd 25 16/2/09 12:18:01 pm
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